September 10, 2016 UPDATE
Click here for an update on domestic and international news
Newsroom, 10.09.2016, 12:15
GENEVA — The EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, has hailed the ceasefire agreement in Syria announced on Saturday by Russia and the US. She called on the UN to prepare the proposals for negotiation regarding the political transition in Syria. Washington and Moscow announced the conclusion of a key ceasefire agreement in Syria that is meant to re-launch the peace process in that country and that includes a nation-wide ceasefire agreement to be enforced as of Monday evening, improving conditions for allowing access to humanitarian aid missions, and joint military actions against the Islamic groups such as the Islamic State and the former Front al-Nusrah, an organization affiliated to the Al Qaida. The period of ceasefire should be used by the Syrian government and the opposition forces to work out a political agreement so as to end a civil war that has lasted for 6 years already. More than 250 thousand people have died in this war and millions of Syrians were forced to leave their homes.
MAE ON CEASEFIRE IN SYRIA– Romania considers the Russian – American ceasefire agreement an important step towards reconciliation, peace and stability in Syria, consolidating the premises for maintaining the sovereignty, independence and integrity of the Syrian state. Equally, the fulfillment of this agreement will create the necessary framework for fighting terrorism, an international effort to which Romania contributes also in its capacity of member of the global coalition against Daesh, shows a communiqué of the Romanian Foreign Ministry. The communiqué writes that Romania will continue to support the humanitarian effort to help the Syrian refugees and the citizens of Syria’s neighboring states that host refugees according to the commitments made. Romania considers that the ceasefire agreement in Syria creates the proper background for negotiations aimed at identifying a political solution to the Syrian crisis and that it will facilitate humanitarian missions’ access to the areas affected by the conflict, the communiqué also mentions.
HOLLANDE VISITS BUCHAREST – The French President, Francois Hollande, will pay a 2-day official visit to Bucharest as of September 12. He will be accompanied by a delegation of ministers, businesspeople and parliamentarians. The French President is to meet in Bucharest with his Romanian counterpart, Klaus Iohannis. High on the agenda of talks is, among other topics, the future of the EU in the run up to the summit to be held in Bratislava on September 16. The French president will also participate, together with the PM Dacian Cioloş, in the inauguration of the Airbus helicopter factory based in Ghimbav, near Brasov county, in central Romania. The investment stands at 40 million euros and the first civilian helicopter will be issued in 2017. The first military helicopter will be released in 2018.
ELECTIONS – The Romanian Foreign Ministry urges the Romanian citizens abroad to enroll in the Electoral Register so as to be able to vote in the December 11 legislative elections. September 14 is the last day when the Romanian citizens with their residence or domicile abroad can file their applications for registration in the Electoral Register. They have to specify if they opt for voting by mail or in the polling stations. The election campaign will be unfolding between November 11- December 10.
GAS PIPELINE – A gas pipeline that will link the gas networks from Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria will be built by the end of 2019. The representatives of the Romanian company Transgaz signed in Budapest a funding contract worth almost 180 million euros. As regards the Romanian territory, the project provides for the building of a 528 km- long pipeline and of three new compressor stations. The total costs of the gas pipeline, that will convey gas from the Black Sea towards Austria, will exceed half a billion euros. One third of the funds is granted by the European Commission.
NORTH KOREA – The UN Security Council has firmly condemned North Korea for the latest nuclear test conducted on Friday. In a joint declaration all the 15 members of the Security Council, including China, the most important trade partner of North Korea and its traditional ally, have stated that they will immediately start talks on the adequate measures aimed at imposing the UN resolutions in this regard. The US, Japan and France asked for further, tougher sanctions against North Korea, which conducted its 5th nuclear test of the largest scale as compared to the previous ones. The Romanian Foreign Ministry officials also expressed concern over the matter, saying that the test was a challenge to peace and regional security and also to international security. (translation by Lacramioara Simion)
